You'll want to kiss your oven goodbye—at least until after Labor Day!
How to Bake a Cake on the Grill (Seriously, You Can!)
It would be great to wrap up a backyard cookout by grilling a gorgeous cake. Mind you, I’m not talking about grilling a cake that’s already baked, as in this Grilled Angel Food Cake recipe. I’m talking about baking on the grill. I thought it was worth a shot—so I did some experimenting over the weekend and I made a beautiful Yellow Cake with Buttercream Frosting.
Here’s the steps I followed—plus some of my insights to help you grill the perfect dessert!
How to Bake a Cake on the Grill
Baking on the grill isn’t as strange as it might sound. When you close the lid on your backyard grill, it’s pretty close to being an oven, particularly if you’re using a grill that has a temperature gauge. For anyone using a charcoal grill, you won’t be able to control the temperature quite as precisely, but I’ll talk about that later (and in the meantime, here’s a primer on how to use a charcoal grill). I did my baking on a gas grill, so keep that in mind.
1. Choose the right pan
You’ll want to use a sturdy metal pan. Skip using glass or ceramic because they might shatter if the heat gets up too high (which shouldn’t happen, but it’s best to err on the side of caution). For my layer cake, I used two 9″ round metal pans. Nothing fancy. Just regular round metal pans.
Pro Tip: These Nordic Ware pans are made in the USA.
2. Use indirect heat
Grill marks look great on a burger or steak. Not so much on a cake! So when baking on the grill, indirect heat is your friend. Heat your grill to the temperature specified in whatever recipe you’re using; then turn off one or more of the burners, and adjust the heat on the remaining burners to maintain a steady temperature.
My gas grill has only two burners. I heated the grill to 325° F, as my recipe required, then I turned off one of the burners and adjusted the other to maintain 325°. If you’re accustomed to tinkering with the temp on your grill, then this should be a no-brainer.
Create a buffer
After you’ve mixed up your batter (here’s the recipe I used), you’ll want to place your pan(s) over the unlit burners. And if that’s all you did, it would be enough to bake a cake as good as your oven could! But what I found is that placing another pan beneath the cake pan(s) leads to an airier and more tender cake.
For my two layers, I set one pan on a cast iron skillet before placing it on the grill.
Set a timer
Set a timer for the baking time called for by the recipe, which should be 40 minutes or so. But be prepared to keep an eye on the grill to make sure the temperature remains stable. (You’ll want to adjust as necessary.) To keep an eye on the grill, I checked the temperature every seven minutes or so.
Is peeking allowed?
The first time you bake a cake on the grill, you’ll probably be tempted to lift the grill lid (once or twice or more!) to check on the progress. But try not to peek too often. 10 minutes before the baking time is up, open the lid and check the cake’s doneness.
The recipe I used said my cakes would be done when they sprang back after being touched lightly. The layer that was on the lower grate sprang back at precisely 25 minutes (as the recipe predicted). The other layer took an extra two minutes. Be aware that where you place your cake may vary your baking time.
Using a charcoal grill
All the same ideas apply when you’re using a charcoal grill, except you’ll do one very special thing that you can’t do with a gas grill: nestle a foil baking pan half-filled with water into the charcoal, and bake your cake directly over the pan of water. This method works amazingly for upside down cakes such as this Skillet Pineapple Upside Down Cake, because it keeps the fruit perfectly moist as it caramelizes, while infusing the whole cake with a wonderful, subtle smokiness.
Seriously, it’s all that easy. Brush up on how to avoid our 10 most common cake mistakes—and you’re ready to grill!
More Great Grilled Desserts
Banana Split BrowniesHow’s this for a dish? All the joy of a banana split without the mess. Everything in this recipe fits into one pan of delectable brownie bars. —Constance Sheckler, Chestertown, Maryland
Pot of S’moresMom’s easy Dutch oven version of the popular campout treat is so good and gooey. The hardest part is waiting for this grilled dessert to cool so you can devour it. Yum! —June Dress, Meridian, Idaho
Grilled Raspberry Peach CobblerWhen we grill, we often like to fix the entire meal outdoors. We have several grills, but prefer to grill with charcoal. That's what I used for this recipe. Feel free to substitute other fruits in this cobbler. You need about six to seven cups of fresh or frozen fruit. —Donna Gribbins, Shelbyville, Kentucky
Grilled Honey-Balsamic Glazed FruitOne summer my mother-in-law made us grilled peaches basted with a sweet and tangy sauce. These are so good I'm always tempted to eat the whole batch. —Kristin Van Dyken, West Richland, Washington
Grilled Peaches & Pound CakeBrush up on grilling dessert with fresh peaches and pound cake! Store-bought cake makes it quick to prepare, and the caramelized flavor will make it disappear fast. —Joy Pendley, Ortonville, Michigan
Honey-Rum Grilled BananasThese grilled bananas are the perfect dessert following a cookout. My family was skeptical at first, but everyone tried the recipe and agreed it was delicious. I use coconut rum from the Bahamas. —Lori Wendt, Mahomet, Illinois
Grilled Stone Fruits with Balsamic SyrupGet ready to experience another side of stone fruits. Hot off the rack, these grilled nectarines practically melt in your mouth. —Sonya Labbe, West Hollywood, California
Ginger Pound Cake S’moresKids love this knockoff of the classic campfire dessert, and adults do too. It's easy to prepare, and any kind of chocolate can be used. These can be made in batches in a cast-iron skillet as well. —Peter Halferty, Corpus Christi, Texas
Hot Quick Banana BoatsThese delicious, warm bananas are great on camp-outs or in the backyard. You can eat them right out of the foil bowl. Cleanup is easy, too. —Sheila Parker, Reno, Nevada
Campfire Dessert ConesKids love to make these! Set out the ingredients so they can mix and match their own creations. —Bonnie Hawkins, Elkhorn, Wisconsin
Grilled Waffle TreatsI made these super sandwiches for family and friends for the first time on a Fourth of July. Everyone loved the generous portions and shared their fondest memories of making and eating s'mores on campouts. —Chris Seger, Lombard, Illinois
Cookout Caramel S’moresEasy delectable treats make a playful finish to an informal meal. Toasting the marshmallows extends our after-dinner time together, giving us something fun to do as a family. —Martha Haseman, Hinckley, Illinois
Blackout Peach Bread PuddingI bake several times a week so my kids have homemade desserts. We lost power in a storm, so I used the grill to invent “blackout” pudding. —Augustina Zaccardi, Eastchester, New York
Grilled Figgy PiesDelicious figs combined with maple, walnuts and creamy mascarpone make a decadent treat that's easy to enjoy at a backyard cookout. These unique hand pies always disappear quickly. —Renee Murby, Johnston, Rhode Island
Eclairs on the GrillMy best camping treat is an easy eclair on a stick. This is the one that makes people watch what you’re doing and beg to be included. —Bonnie Hawkins, Elkhorn, Wisconsin
Grilled Desserts FAQ
What are the best fruits to grill?
Grilling fruit enhances the flavors and juiciness of the produce, so any fruit you're craving can make an excellent choice to grill! We recommend using fruits that are in season to get those delicious summer flavors. Easier fruits to cook on the grill are medium to larger ones, like nectarines, plums and halved pineapples. If you're in the mood for smaller fruits like blueberries and strawberries, place them on skewers to create fruit kabobs.
How do you cook desserts on the grill?
Making desserts on the grill is just as easy as grilling some of your favorite barbecue meals. You'll want to make sure you clean the grill before placing your dessert on it, especially if you just got done cooking up some barbecue-smothered ribs. With a clean surface, follow the usual procedure of preparing the grill and watching your food closely—cooking desserts on the grill can take a substantially shorter time to cook than typical foods. Each individual recipe in this grilled fruit collection will give you plenty of tips and directions to make the perfect treat.
